Tuesday, September 22, 2026
72.0°F

Conference title hangs in the balance for boys soccer

AVERY HOWE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 11 months AGO
by AVERY HOWE
Photographer | October 4, 2023 2:00 AM

The Columbia Falls Wildcats boys soccer team played through pouring rain with beaming smiles on Sept. 26 to beat the Libby Loggers 9-2 for Senior Night.

Senior Kai Golan scored five goals in the match bringing his career total — and the record — to 68 and assists to 42. Seniors Traic Fainter and Cash Byrd scored one each, and junior River Wolford two. Forward Ben Martin, who has lettered in soccer since his junior year, was recognized alongside the other seniors.

“Their dedication to the program means a lot…” said coach O’Brien Byrd. “They deserve kudos for their patience with such a young team, they’ve been good leaders.”

Byrd said that the Cats will lean heavily on that leadership as they face their rivals, the Whitefish Bulldogs, to determine the winner of the Montana A North conference.

“We’re definitely going into that game positioning ourselves as best we can to win. As coaches, we’re setting them up to be competitive,” Byrd said.

As of Monday, Columbia Falls was 10-1-1 overall (6-1-0) and Whitefish was 10-0-0 (6-0-0). “We’re excited to test our skills against a competitive team - with the conference title on the line,” Byrd said.

The Cats and Dogs will face off in Whitefish on Thursday, Oct. 5 with boys starting at 3:30 p.m.

ARTICLES BY AVERY HOWE

Bug Creek project making headway near Bigfork
March 27, 2025 midnight

Bug Creek project making headway near Bigfork

Flathead Area Mountain Bikers and Flathead National Forest will continue work on the forest’s first dedicated mountain bike trails around Crane Mountain this spring.

March 4, 2025 11 p.m.

Neighbors, health department oppose addition to wellness retreat

Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee heard a request from Samaa Retreat for a conditional use permit to add a retreat center building on their property on Aero Lane during their Thursday, Feb. 27 meeting.

March 4, 2025 11 p.m.

Public offers mixed opinions on Lakeside sewer permit

Views were split in Thursday’s hearing. The majority of speakers were in favor of the permit, composed of public works employees, a few elected officials and members of the public.